Every week, our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: The travel trend for 2022 – the ‘to-do’ holiday.
Forget ‘bucket list’ holidays – an emerging trend is ‘to-do list’ trips.
Travel experts say that as a result of so many missed opportunities during the pandemic, many holidaymakers have realised there’s a whole world of adventures to be had out there and now don’t want to simply tick off destinations.
Lux Tripper’s 12 night Best Of Oman and Dubai vacation offers a stop at Zighy Bay in Oman.
These eight incredible to-dos are for holidaymakers who wish to make the most of their vacation.
Paragliding is a great way to make an impression in Oman. As you glide down to the Six Senses Zighy Bay Resort, a professional controls the paraglider.
The high-adrenaline option is part of a 12-night Best Of Oman And Dubai holiday where guests stay in four different five-star hotels and enjoy private visits to the area’s mountains, caves, canyons and big cities. From £4,350pp including flights (luxtripper.co.uk).
Wilderness Safaris: Cosmic Stargazing in Little Kulala Safari Camp under the Dark Skies of Namibia
Try a stargazing safari to experience the wonders of the universe. You will be able to see three amazing camps in the Namibian bush under darkened skies.
The 11 suites in Little Kulala have a rooftop deck with beanbag chairs and are perfect for stargazing. Or lie on a Star Bed on your suite’s lower deck and use astronomy apps on tablets provided to guests.
The astronomy of the two next camps is enhanced by the sightings at wild animals. From £7,253pp including flights (wilderness-safaris.com).
You have the opportunity to tour the huge New Mexico ranch that Ted Turner, media mogul and founder of CNN, built. You can enjoy nine days of Resorts And Ranches tours, which include spa visits and excursions from Denver and Colorado Springs to Santa Fe. From £6,450pp plus flights (luxurygold.com).
Colorado Springs, pictured, is one of the stops on Luxury Gold’s nine-day Resorts And Ranches tour
Resorts and Ranches also includes a visit to Santa Fe’s scenic side. Prices start from £6,450pp plus flights
Asil is a large, modernist home with Mediterranean views, near Kalkan, Turkey’s old fishing port.
Ten people can sleep in the five-bedroom and five-bathroom home, which also features an infinity swimming pool, garden, barbecue pit, and outdoor dining. The property costs from £2,550 a week (vintagetravel.co.uk).
Soak up the glamour of Miami’s Art Deco South Beach on a mini-break in the British Airways January sale (it started early).
Enjoy views of the old fishing port of Kalkan, pictured, from Asil mansion – Vintage Travel is offering stays in the modernist five-bedroom property
British Airways offers a 7-night tour to St Kitts.
Get flights and three nights at Riu Plaza hotel on Miami’s buzzing Collins Avenue from £499pp.
Alternatively, discover the jetset Caribbean island of St Kitts with flights and seven nights sandwiched between a golf course and a golden beach at the Timothy Beach Resort from £599pp.
Guests can visit hot springs, ride horses on volcanic beaches or take catamarans to the sister island of Nevis (britishairways.com/sale).
Olympic Holidays allows you to spend a few days in peace on Halki Island, Greece, which is pictured above.
For a more intimate experience, you can head to Halki on the Greek island. It is quiet and peaceful, with only one road and very few cars. Fly to Rhodes, then join locals on an hour-long ferry to Halki harbour, where you’ll stay in the Aretanassa Hotel – known locally as the Queen of Halki and set in a former sponge warehouse. From £773pp including flights (olympicholidays.com).
Next year a once-in-a-decade opportunity is coming up for garden-lovers to visit Floriade Expo, Holland’s huge horticultural show running from April to October and featuring some 3,000 species.
Five-day Rail Tour includes transport from London and visits to cheese farms and windmills, as well as a cruise along the canals in Amsterdam. From £695pp (arenatravel.com).